This year’s cover exemplifies EXIM Bank’s reach and impact on the global stage. All originating from the backdrop of the Malaysian cityscape and trade-related transport vehicles, EXIM Bank has connected Malaysian businesses to a myriad of markets worldwide as symbolised through the country’s landmarks on the location marker, along with a shadow of the world map below.
Dear Stakeholders,
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Geopolitical tensions continued to impact global recovery in 2022, but it was a revitalised year of recovery for Malaysia as our nation recorded encouraging GDP growth of 8.7% for 2022. This was anchored on recovery of business, consumer and investor confidence as a result of the transition to the endemic phase post COVID-19. For EXIM Bank Malaysia Berhad (EXIM or the Bank), it marked a shift back to full focus on our mandate and a period of strengthening our foothold in a new era of global volatilities and sustainable business aspirations.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am privileged to present to you EXIM BANK’s annual report for the financial year ended 31 December 2022.
2022 was a time for EXIM Bank to fully pivot back towards our mandate within a new post-pandemic environment. This comes after two years of disruption and our transient shift towards helping the government ensure businesses survive through pandemic challenges. Coming on board in August 2022, my focus for the Bank has been to review and refresh our strategies, reconnect with our stakeholders and revitalise our workforce in readiness to make our mark as the nation’s preferred financier and advisor for global business.
EXIM Bank dedicates much effort in supporting causes that effect positive impact to the lives of our beneficiaries. Every CSR programme is strategically planned with proper resources and objectives to ensure sustainable and impactful outcomes. We continue to improve the way we record benefits and impact to ensure that the work we do on this front leads to sustainable outcomes. Throughout the years, we have embarked on various CSR programmes by collectively engaging with our business ecosystem of employees, marketplace players and non-governmental agencies. Wherever possible, we partner with established social gamechangers to ensure objectives of our social impact projects are well-identified, tracked and measured.
As the custodian for all the projects we undertake, the Bank’s Corporate Communication Department is proud to present a summary of EXIM Bank’s 2022 CSR activities.
ORANG ASLI WATER PROJECT
Objectives
• To uplift the quality of the Orang Asli lives by providing clean water access.
• To continue the Bank’s community-conscious project by collaborating with Global Peace Foundation Malaysia (GPFM), an NGO championing the Orang Asli community since 2014.
EXIM Bank began collaborating with GPFM, an NGO focused on uplifting Orang Asli communities, in 2021 for a socially responsible project dubbed “The All-Lights Village”. Through this initiative, the Bank provided solar energy lights that benefited four Orang Asli (OA) villages, which consist of 45 households, or 150 villagers.
This CSR project brought various benefits to the OA community. Their energy expenditure was reduced as they no longer needed to buy expensive and unsustainable energy sources; health and environmental impact improved as hazardous bonfires were no longer needed at night; and the community’s productivity and livelihood were enhanced once they had electricity to continue working and studying through the evening and night.
In 2022, the Bank worked with GPFM to address another critical challenge faced by the OA community – the lack of easy access to safe and clean water. Having unreliable and inadequate water source and storage are some of the challenges faced by the Jakun community of Pahang. Knowing that the health and resilience of a community can only be fully realised with access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, GPFM launched several water related projects for two villages - Kg. Teraling and Kg. Patah Pisau located in Rompin district, Pahang – where the need for better access to water was dire. For example, the orang asli of Kampung Padang relied on water from a self-dug well for drinking, cooking, and washing. The well is located half a kilometre away and it takes 15 minutes to walk there through an overgrown path. Walking back with their load of water, however, is a daunting chore, especially for the women tasked with fetching water. This 30-minute journey to the well and back while being weighed down by several gallons of water happens a few times a day, and is the painful reality for the people here who have no choice or are powerless to change their situation. As a result, the communities kept usage of water to a minimum, which impacted their health and hygiene standards.
The Bank contributed to “The Water” project which was designed to bring manifold benefits to the OA community by implementing rainwater harvesting systems as a secondary source of water supply for their homes and farms. This alternative water source for their daily use sustainably boosts the community’s health, hygiene and food security.
Adoption of Baby Elly
Objectives
To continue providing for the wellbeing of Elly, the handicapped baby elephant as part of the Bank’s sustainable CSR Environmental initiative for 2022.
Since 2017, EXIM Bank had committed itself and worked together with the National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC), Kuala Gandah to help conserve elephants, which are an endangered wildlife species in the country. In 2018, after the successful programme held the year before in NECC, EXIM Bank once again came forward in adopting another handicapped baby elephant named Elly, who needed urgent medical assistance due to its critical condition when she lost her front lower right foot from a trap laid by illegal hunters.
Subsequently, this CSR effort in adopting baby Elly and addressing her needs saw the Bank contributing custom-made prosthetic legs that required replacement twice a year to accommodate her rapid growth; a one-off portable paddock for Elly’s daily mobility exercise; and a one-year supply of milk, multivitamins and other supplements, as part of her medical treatments and sustenance.
To ensure the sustainability of our long-term environmental effort commitment, the Bank has renewed the adoption of baby Elly in 2022 to ensure she stays healthy as she grows up and is equipped with the necessary medical treatments.
BRINGING RAMADHAN CHEER TO ORPHANS
Objectives
To assist orphanages in the preparation of the fasting month and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration for the children in their care.
Being socially responsive and constantly looking out to make a sustainable difference in the community, the Bank has consistently, during the month of Ramadhan, taken the opportunity to spread cheer among neglected segments in society. This year the focus was to bring festive cheer to orphans in Persatuan Pengurusan Pusat Jagaan Titian Kasih (Titian Kasih), located in Titiwangsa; and Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Bimbingan At-Taqwa (At-Taqwa) in Puchong.
Titian Kasih was established in 1998 and has a total of 100 residents, who are mostly children, At-Taqwa was established in 2011 and has a total of 53 residents - children ranging from 4 to 18 years old. Post pandemic, these homes face escalating costs that are barely covered by the donations received from the government, private sectors, and NGOs. Without community help, the homes are unable to meet the extra expenses for Ramadan and Hari Raya celebrations.
EXIM Bank stepped into this role to offer motivation, fellowship and support in uplifting spirits during the month of Ramadan. The Bank also provided donations to help them prepare for the holy month, as well as contributions of packed food for breaking of fast.
